Speaker: Dr. Tavivat Puntarigvivat
 
Dr. Puntarigvivat is director of the Institute of Research and Development at The World Buddhist University in Bangkok, Thailand. He received his B.A. in economics from Thammasat University in Thailand, his M.A. in philosophy from the University of Hawaii, and his Ph.D. in religion from Temple University.
 
Dr. Puntarigvivat was a member of the Thai Parliament's Committee on the Reform of Thai Buddhism and a member of the Thai Senate's Subcommittee on Ethics. He was also chair of the graduate program in comparative religion at Mahidol University in Thailand, where he initiated the graduate program in religion and development.